Carnegie Hall to Spotlight NYO-USA, NYO2, and NYO Jazz in July 2025 Concert Series

Carnegie Hall will shine a spotlight this July on more than 200 outstanding young musicians from across the country as its acclaimed national youth ensembles—NYO-USA, NYO2, and NYO Jazz—take the stage at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. Now in its twelfth year, the program has provided more than 1,500 teenagers with free training, touring, and performance opportunities alongside leading artists and conductors.

The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) performs on Sunday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m., led by Gianandrea Noseda. The program includes Carlos Simon’s Festive Fanfare and Overture (co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall), Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor with soloist Ray Chen, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. The performance will be broadcast as part of the Carnegie Hall Live series in partnership with WQXR. NYO-USA will then embark on a six-city tour of Asia, with performances in Japan, Hong Kong, China, and South Korea.

NYO Jazz returns to the Hall on Saturday, July 26 at 7:00 p.m. under the direction of Sean Jones. Grammy Award-winning vocalist Luciana Souza joins the ensemble for a program featuring works by John Clayton, Christine Jensen, Thad Jones, Christian McBride, and Vince Mendoza, alongside a special set of Brazilian works and the world premiere of a piece by Dafnis Prieto (commissioned by Carnegie Hall). The concert also marks the ensemble’s first-ever arrangement commissioned by an alum, trumpeter Janelle Finton. Following their Carnegie Hall concert, NYO Jazz embarks on its first tour of Latin America with performances in Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

NYO2, Carnegie Hall’s orchestra for younger teen musicians ages 14–17, performs on Sunday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. Led by conductor Rafael Payare and featuring celebrated cellist Alisa Weilerstein, the program includes Jimmy López’s Perú Negro, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5. NYO2 will then travel to Scotland for its first-ever European tour, appearing as a resident orchestra of the Edinburgh International Festival.

Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles are a program of the Hall’s Weill Music Institute. Each summer, students train at Purchase College, SUNY, with faculty comprised of leading orchestral musicians and jazz artists. All programs are offered free of charge to participants.

TICKET INFORMATION

NYO-USA
Sunday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $40–$85

NYO Jazz
Saturday, July 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25–$45

NYO2
Sunday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25–$45